Flathead Lake (Polson, Lakeside, Somers: real estate, rent, crime)

[Fired Up]

I went to Flathead Lake on vacation about 9 years ago. Ever since then, my dream is to move there. I had the time of my life and met some amazing people. I know I'm probably romanticizing that place, but I'm too far gone at this point. I'm in love (with Montana) and have to live there. I'm from a small town in western Colorado, so the cold and snow don't bother me. In fact, I love winter.

While I was there, I drove around Flathead Lake, or at least part of the way.. I can't remember exactly. Anyway, I picked up newspapers from some of the little towns that had them. It was apparent to me that unless I wanted to work in the food service or hospitality industry, or be a cashier, I would have to bring my job with me. Has that changed at all?

I'm a glass bead artist, silversmith & jewelry designer, and my husband is in the construction industry. I'd love to open a small bead store with a studio to teach people how to make glass beads using a torch, and teach jewelry making.

I guess what I want to know is whether it's feasible to make it in a small Montana town. I don't want to move there and end up starving to death and regretting my move. Is there a need for such diversions as a bead store? Would my being an "outsider" hinder my chances of being successful?

I guess I want affirmation that dreams really can come true, if you're willing to work for them. We're in our mid 40's, have 10 kids, and can't just pack up and move into the unknown without a lot of research. Most of our kids are grown and on their own, but our youngest is only 6, so we need to think of our kids first.

I was looking at the real estate prices there and I found everything from 50k (dumps) to 50 million (a bit out of our price range). Surely there are decent houses for $170,000 around Flathead Lake. I don't think I've found the right real estate company obviously. I don't want to deal with someone who caters to the filthy rich. But my search is limited to what I can find online. My husband is starting to think that the fumes from melting glass is affecting my brain, to even think about moving to that area with the job/housing market what it is. But I have been saving every dime, in hopes that someday I can realize my dream.

So what do you think? Opinions, insight?

Thanks in advance.

Jane

[truckingbronco]

Surely there is nothing even close to 170,000 around Flathead Lake...sorry.

[Fired Up]

LOL! I don't mind living in a small town close to Flathead Lake. I just don't want to live in a city. My husband is an avid fisherman and he would surely curl up and die if he couldn't go fishing close by.
Honestly, I don't care if we have to live in a tent during the summer, while we build a house. Or build an addition onto an existing house. I'm just not paying $500k for a house. That's one of the reasons we want to leave here. The celebrities and the filthy rich, made living any where near Aspen or Vail cost prohibitive, and property taxes are through the roof. We can barely afford ski passes anymore.

I told my college aged and adult kids that I'm moving so far into the wilderness, you'll need a snowmobile or a helicopter to come visit me. LOL! Let's see them raid my pantry then!

All I really want is solitude, with a cute little town and a fishing hole nearby. I can open a store in big city that's within an hours drive.

Maybe buying land and building ourselves is the only option left. Have the prices gone up so much that normal people can't afford to live there?

[grannymontanny]

It is going to be hard to find something in that price range,thanks to the rich Canadians and Californians that have been buying up all the big parcels ,to develope.and making all the surrounding "little peoples" prices and taxs go up.the only thing i can tell you is dont give up,look inot all the little towns that are scattered all around the lake,just know that you wont get anything on the lake for anything near that price,land or otherwise.theres,Lakeside,Somers,Rollins,Dayton,Bi g Arm,Elmo,Polson,to name a few on the west shore.

[rickers]

Prices are much lower on "the rez" ! Even a trailer or a dumpy looking older small place is better than paying 1100. per month for a roach infested flat in some crime ridden crowded mid western or eastern city. I live on the reservation (I'm white by the way) I can leave valuables in my rig and I can leave doors unlocked and I can leave my garage door open for days and nothing has disappeared from my property EVER !
My dog has never seen a flea, I have never seen a cockroach here and I just saw a whole bunch of bighorn sheep and two moose day before yesterday just going shopping.
I'm very happy with my trailer on the rez. Plus paying off a $28,000. home was a piece of cake. No mortgage, no rent , no car payments, walk to stores, P.O. and hot mineral tubs a couple of blocks away !!! Yes I'm happy to live in a dumpy trailer on the rez. !

[jimj]

Boy Rickers, must be a progressive place, moose and sheep going shopping? What were they shopping for?

[rickers]

I'm cracking up, glad I wasn't holding my cup of tea !!!
The sheep went shopping for mattress sets and the moose were after napkins and silverware !
Here's the link to the pictures again.
They go to the new Wal-mart between Snyder and Copper King on the Thompson River Road !!!



Picasa Web Albums - Rick - My neighborhood. (broken link)

[Montanaman1]

Looks and sounds great Rick.

But, I just couldn't live in a place without a tanning salon.

[orygun]

Originally Posted by rickers

Prices are much lower on "the rez" ! Even a trailer or a dumpy looking older small place is better than paying 1100. per month for a roach infested flat in some crime ridden crowded mid western or eastern city. !

Amen to that!